Newport Harbor Island Resort Shortlisted for International Hotel Award

Hugging the coast of Newport’s Goat Island with panoramic coastal views rests an unexpected experience waiting to be discovered, where guests are encouraged to soak up the simple lifestyle and rich historical, communal culture of New England while breathing in the fresh salt air of Narragansett Bay.

Enjoy the intimate, luxurious public spaces, designed with quintessential Newport charm while shining a harmonious light on sustainability and nature. Crisp white tongue-and-groove ceilings and walls are accentuated with a scalloped wood slotted awning ceiling. Weathered wide plank oak floors are strewn with handwoven braided carpets. A handcrafted whale sculpture made entirely of driftwood separates the different seating areas, while a carved 8-foot wood nautilus separates the lobby and Torpedo Bar & Lounge. This collection was designed to celebrate balance in nature.

The hotel features a curated collection of weavings utilizing different styles and techniques. Over 200 weavings were commissioned from artisans and weaving guilds throughout New England to showcase their uniqueness of style and independent spirit, many of which were made to capture the folklore of the region and New England’s rich legacy of weaving. Most guestrooms feature their own custom weaving with corresponding QR codes for guests to learn more about the weaver’s story and vision – connecting guests with locals, one weaving at a time.

Public spaces also showcase spectacular installations, including an 11-foot-wide weaving and loom behind the front desk that incorporates plastic found on local beaches. This piece is a nod to life’s journey and our personal responsibility to live harmoniously with nature.

Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the public spaces with light, designed to bring the outdoors in. Linens, wools, and cottons selected in a soft natural palette of cream, pale grays, and lavenders with touches of green were selected to capture the coastal charm of the resort’s many banks of hydrangeas. Local, hand-crafted furniture and soft sofas covered in linen and wool, tossed with throws and pillows, complement a collection of hand-braided rugs utilizing organic fibers and natural dyes.

Guestrooms carry on the sophisticated yet casual, coastal elegance. Warm and intimate washed woods and soft, natural hues, feel unmistakably residential. Woven area rugs, accents in pine and rustic oak, and an intimate seating area with a custom task table provide guests the distinct comforts of home. Each table, perfect for dining or working, replicates Newport’s own colonial style of ball and claw table. The art collection in the guestrooms was curated and created by local New England artists.

“The opportunity to create a fresh and curated experience that would connect our guests to the beauty, history, community, and culture of Newport was very exciting. The surrounding area, including Goat Island, has such a deep cultural significance. We treated the project as if it was a ‘weaving’ by bringing these important threads together, such as the warm and handmade blankets of New England. Our intention was to create a layered and rich experience that would be both visually stunning an mindful of the environment. We hired weavers from across New England to participate in our vision and the resort features over 200 original weavings throughout. It is our metaphor for connecting people, community, and experiences in a way that we hope will be meaningful and will last a lifetime.”

– Andrea Sheehan, Art Director at Dawson Design Associates